An expected move, but great to see that the signing of Markstrom is official. Dale Tallon will have his work cut out for him to place. Markstrom and members of the Panthers organization have said they planned to start him in Rochester, but that could all change if Tomas Vokoun is traded. We’ll have to wait and see. Either way, the Panthers are looking pretty strong in goal with this kid now in the system.

Sources close to the Swedish Elite League have informed LitterBoxCats.com that Panthers goaltending prospect Jacob Markstrom – whom many observers consider the best netminder currently outside the NHL – has signed a 3-year entry-level contract with Florida. Details of the deal have not been disclosed.

Markstrom – fresh off a bronze medal in the recently concluded IIHF World Championship in Germany – is a second round selection (31st overall) by Florida in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and is widely viewed as the Panthers’ “future” in net.

This was an expected development, as GM Dale Tallon recently stated he and Markstrom’s agent were speaking regularly. More to follow soon.